Ives commented in his Memos that the Second Violin Sonata was
"based, to a large extent, on the old ragtime stuff" [69]. As with the
other violin sonatas, he was somewhat ambivalent about the work in his
latter years. [For more information about Ives' attitudes toward the violin
sonatas, see my commentary for the First
Violin Sonata.] In any case, the vivid and nostalgic Second Violin
Sonata has been one of Ives' most frequently recorded chamber works. It's
not hard to understand why: It's a lovely piece.

Composition History

Ives assembled and re-composed the Violin Sonata No. 2 circa 1914, based
on works that he had originally composed in 1901, 1903, and 1907-10. He
also made revisions to the work in 1919.

Ives used portions of the "Pre-First Violin Sonata" in the first movement,
while also incorporating passages from the song "His Exaltation." The
second movement also uses material from the "Pre-First." The third movement
is based on a rejected fourth movement of the Violin Sonata No. 4.

In the first movement Ives quotes the song "Autumn." In the second movement
he borrows from a number of sources, including:

"The Battle Cry of Freedom"

"Sailor's Hornpipe"

"Turkey in the Straw"

"The White Cockade"

Ives' own "Four Ragtime Dances," No. 1

The third movement Ives quotes "Nettleton."

Premiere Performance

Jerome Goldstein (violin) and Rex Tillson (piano) premiered the Second
Violin Sonata on March 18, 1924 in a recital at Aeolian Hall, New York
City. [Look on page 73 in Vivian Perlis' oral history, Charles Ives
Remembered, for a reproduction of the original concert program / poster.
Interesting.]

Premiere Recording

The first recording of the complete work was by Patricia Travers (piano)
and Otto Herz (piano). It was issued on Columbia Records in 1951.